“Cannot Take This Sh** For Granted”: Gilbert Arenas Gives Harrowing Details On Son Alijah’s Car Accident

Gilbert Arenas gave a detailed account of the events leading up to his son's car accident, along with his experience that followed as his son made a full recovery.

4 Min Read

Credit: Abigail Dollins/Statesman Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Gilbert Arenas’ son, Alijah Arenas, was in a horrifying car accident in April. While his son is in a much better place and is recovering, Arenas recently detailed the events following the accident involving his Tesla Cybertruck. While speaking with Matt Barnes on the “All The Smoke” podcast on the matter, he said:

“The car malfunctioned on him. The steering went limp and rammed right into a tree. Once he got his personality back, once they took the drugs out of him, our jokes came back. And like, damn, boy. You almost went extra crispy on me, man.”

“He couldn’t break the window,” said Arenas, addressing the bulletproof windows feature on the Cybertruck. “People are like, ‘Oh, he fell asleep.’ I’m looking at him. He’s on the phone.  He’s on the phone with 911, I’m trying to get that call, he was on the phone with them for 10 minutes. So I know he was, at least, in the car for 10 minutes.”

The former NBA player mentioned the odd nature of the accident while giving an account of the events leading up to it. While tracking his son’s location on an app, he noticed the car parked at the gym. But a phone call from his wife informed him of the accident and how his son was being rushed to the hospital.

Arenas then went on to share some heartfelt advice for parents everywhere and said, “If you are a parent and your teen has this car, you might want to put a hammer in that joint. Something that can break the window.”

“He said he was trying to kick the door in, but couldn’t,” added Arenas, speaking about Alijah’s attempts to get out of the wreck. 

The former NBA player also mentioned keeping flowers in his son’s room after he returned from the hospital and said, “You are a lucky one to see this. Most people don’t get to see the flowers and how everybody reacts when something happens. So you get to witness what the world did when you were asleep.”

Alijah Arenas was placed under a medically induced coma to aid with his recovery. When he awoke, his father used this experience as a means of motivating him not to take this life for granted and to work towards greatness.

The 18-year-old has certainly displayed all the qualities of becoming a great player. Having committed to joining USC for the 2025-26 season, Arenas will hope to make the most of his illustrious high school career by making a name for himself on the collegiate circuit.

With an average of 30.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game in high school, the 6’6″ guard is bound to make some noise for the Trojans next season.

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Siddhant Gupta is a basketball columnist at Fadeaway World, based out of Mumbai, India. He combines firsthand playing experience with thoughtful analysis to report on the NBA's ever-evolving world. A lifelong athlete, Siddhant's perspective is rooted in years on the court, giving his work a unique edge that resonates with both casual fans and seasoned ones.Before joining Fadeaway World, he spent two formative years at Sportskeeda, where he sharpened his skills and had the opportunity to interview NBA legend Ray Allen during his time in India. A diehard Los Angeles Lakers fan since 2008, Siddhant doesn't just report on the game—he lives it. Beyond his work, he is a student of the game, constantly learning, debating, and engaging with the local and global basketball communities.
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